Modern India

SINCE this book was finished on Indian Republic Day 1957, there have been important developments in both
the political and the economic fields. Some of these
changes--such as the establishment of the Communist Government in Kerala, the evident malaise and partial loss of grip of
the Congress Party, and the foreign exchange crisis--give rise
to anxiety about the future. Nevertheless, the informed British
observer is still impressed with the soundness and stability of India, and if he is a man of business, still regards India as the
safest country for investment in Asia to-day. He is, however,
conscious that the India of 1958 differs in several important
respects from that of 1956.

INTERNAL AFFAIRS

In the first place Nehru's position is no longer so unquestioned as in the early years of Independence. He can still have
his own way over matters of importance, but the Press and the
public are more ready to criticise and to disagree with him
than was formerly the case. Nehru appears to be increasingly
conscious of this change, and recently reacted to it by offering
to resign, or at least to take a Sabbatical leave. His offer was
not accepted, but it has perhaps helped to kill the superstition
that after Nehru comes the deluge. For the first ten years of
Independence Nehru was indispensable. He is still the outstanding figure in modern India, but his main constructive
work may well have been done and there are several Congress
leaders who could, if necessary, replace him at the appropriate
time. His position in the Cabinet is perhaps less happy than it
was. At least three of his colleagues are practical men and
right wingers, and though Pandit Pant. Morarji Desai and S. K.
Patil yield to nobody in their loyalty to their Prime Minister,
they obviously do not share his socialist outlook.

A curious position has thus arisen. Three members of the
Cabinet, powerful both by reason of their personalities and
because of their record of service in the old Congress Party, are

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